TROTTING Wairau King Should Resume Work Soon

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28870, 15 April 1959, Page 5

TROTTING Wairau King Should Resume Work Soon

Wairau King, the outstanding three-year-old trotter this season, has been off the active list since his win at Hutt Park on February 21. It had been the intention of Wairau King’s owner, Mr H. G. Andrew, of Blenheim, to spell the horse for three weeks after his success at the Wellington Trotting Club’s meeting, but a bruised foot has kept him out of training until now.

It is hoped that his trainer, R. Mitchell, will be able to make a fresh start with him in about another week.

Wairau King, unbeaten in three starts, will be prepared for the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club’s New Zealand Trotting Stakes, which will be run at Addington on June 13. If present plans are followed, Wairau King will have one further race before the Addington classic. That will probably be at the Wellington Trotting Club’s meeting next month.

Wairau King started racing at Reefton on December 30. He created a big impression when he beat Lawsuit in the President’s Handicap. He was not produced again until the Nelson meeting on February 2. That day he made short work of Springal in the Tasman Handicap after taking 3min 28sec for the mile and a half. Then came his race at Hutt Park. He was driven with great confidence that day and was not asked for a serious effort to beat Super Cloud by half a length. In none of his races has Wairau King looked likely to put a foot wrong; nor has he been required to give of his best to win. Wairau King is the second foal of his dam, Wairau Queen, to race. The first was Kaboon. which has shown useful form for Mrs R. E. Laing and Mr F. W. Jarman, who also race Kennoway and Wairau Princess. Wairau Queen was purchased for £lOO by Mr Andrew in an attempt to breed a good straight-out trotter. That was why she was mated with the Volomite horse. Worthy Monarch, which is out of a sister to Greyhound, the greatest trotter ever raced in the United States.

Wairau Queen’s latest progeny is an attractive yearling filly by My Chief, the sire of the champion unbeaten two-year-old pacer of the current season. Sun Chief. This year she is carrying a foal by the Adios horse. Captain Adios.

Foaling Returns The New Zealand Trotting Conference reports that there are still a large number of 1958 foaling returns outstanding. These returns should have been returned to the conference at the end of February. A penalty of a fine may be imposed in the event of the return not being forwarded as required. In addition the conference may refuse to register any horse in respect of which the foaling is not notified.

Trained At Highbank Diamond Brigade, which was purchased for 170gns by Mr P. McCarthy at the dispersal sale of Mr J. Peterson’s stock, is being trained at Highbank by P. G. and K. M. O’Reilly, who also train Castle Sun for the same owner. Diamond Brigade, a three-year-old by Light Brigade from Sweet Heather, was bred at Stratford by Mr V. W. Bevins, who sold him for 1150gns to Mr Peterson at the 1957 national yearling sales. Nominated At Dunedin Seaforth is a surprise nomination for the main trotters’ races at the Forbury Park Trotting Club’s winter meeting on May 2 and 4. Seaforth has not raced since he had one start in November of the 1956-57 season. He is an 11-year-o!d stallion by Light Brigade from the imported mare. Fantine, the dam also of Fantom. Fourth Brigade. Lucky Meg and Fantan. Seaforth had plenty of ability earlier in his career, but recurring soreness prevented him ; being raced often.

Unbeaten Youngster ■ Hautapu should maintain his 1 unbeaten record in the Manawatu i Futurity Stakes at Awapuni on , Saturday. He is the top-ranking I two-year-old in the North Island | this season and is expected to ; develop high-class form later on. ; Owned and trained at Tamahere • by R. A. McMillan, he is a gelding I by the Volomite horse, Intangible, j from Shirley Lawn, a fine winner I a few years ago for McMillan. ' Hautapu is unbeaten in his two j starts so far. At his most recent I appearance he gained a runaway i win in the Robert Mortlock Memorial Stakes at Hawera on March 28. He will have only seven opponents on Saturday and he should receive a good run all the way. Surprise Favourite

St. Ives was a surprise facourite for the Spotswood Handicap at j Rangiora on Saturday. He was i having his first start at a I totalisator meeting. St. Ives broke I at the start and again in the first two furlongs, losing all chance. St. Ives is a four-year-old gelding !, by the Andy Derby horse. Consul, : from Needlepoint, the dam also I of Young Kaye, Dance Away and i Little Robin. I He was bred at Akaroa by Mr J.

X. Ferguson, who sold him to Mr O. E. Hooper, for 300gns at the 1956 yearling sales. Mr Hooper owned and trained Consul, which was mated with three mares. Consul had tremendous speed, but unfortunately he was most erratic. St. Ives is trained at Addington by C. A. Tasker. He has plenty of ability, but may require time before the best is seen of him. Rangiora Doubles Lady Cardigan, winner of the Cheviot Cup, the first leg of the T.A.B. double at Rangiora on Saturday was third favourite on the win and place totalisator, but was second favourite on the double, carrying 3814 tickets in a pool of 24,124$ 10s tickets. The

favourite bracket of Onside, Teryman and Fernside Lad carried 6943 tickets, while Takitimu. the third favourite, carried 3176. Hideaway, the fifth favourite on the win totalisator, was favourite for the second leg, the Rangiora Handicap, carrying 576$ tickets, compared with 545 on Schnapps, which finished second, and 467$ on Patchwork, which finished third. The winner, Ceremonial, was third favourite for a win, but fourth favourite with doubles investors, carrying 422 tickets.

Lucky Surprise was favourite for the first leg of the on-course double, carrying 811 10s tickets in a pool of 3853. The winner, Te Par, was second favourite with 399 tickets. However, he was sixth favourite on the win totalisator. Philonic had 100 tickets redeemed on his chances in the second leg. Chances Are, which finished second to Philonic, was second favourite with 43$ tickets.